Wellington Teen Author Sells First Book Internationally and Gets Invited to America

Cape Town - 161109. Hillary Geslin(17) from Wellington High School shows off the book she wrote, Success Comes With Effort. She has sold her first book internationally and will be spending a few day in New York City next year. She is seen here at her home in Wellington. reporter: Thembeka. Picture: Jason Boud

A Hoërskool Wellington grade 10 learner, Hillary Geslin’s first book is being sold internationally.

Born and raised in Egoli (Carterville), Hillary says that she started writing to express her feelings. She also wanted to use her book to motivate people her age to rise above their circumstances and not to doubt themselves. She says that “If you know yourself, people can say whatever they want.”

She has no formal training but her aunt, Angeline Geslin-Truskie, who is also her mentor and manager, helps with the grammar and spelling. Angeline also motivates Hillary by telling her that, “those who do not dare, will not win”.

According to Hillary, it took his six months to complete the book after which it had to be printed. She says that when she saw the completed book for the first time, she laughed and she cried. At the weekly school meeting, she was called forward by the principle who told the rest of the school about her book. She felt very proud, especially after one of the girls at school told Hillary that her book is only in her imagination.

Hillary will be attending a function for writers in America next year and we wish her well on her journey to become a great author.